ARABELLA STARR BRACKEN

BRACKEN ARABELLA STARR
On Tuesday, September 24, 2013, Arabella Starr Bracken (Belle) of Brentwood, age 97, died in Washington, North Carolina. Belle was the daughter of the late Susan Hoey and Charles Hyatt Starr of McKeesport, PA; and the loving wife of the late Harry Oliver Bracken. She is survived by her two children, Charles H. Bracken II (Virginia Price) and Susan S. Bracken, all of Chocowinity, NC; and her four grandchildren, Kelly Bracken Tait (Andrew) of Doylestown, PA, Kristen Bracken Cheney (Kasey) of West Grove, PA, Timothy Bracken Milligan (Elizabeth) of Melrose, MA, and Kate Milligan Tucci (Christopher) of Tiffin, OH. She was "Grandma Belle" to seven great grandchildren, Conor and Morgan Tait, Cole and Keira Cheney, Hyatt Tucci, and Zachary and Lucy Milligan. Belle was the sister of the late Charles Hyatt Starr, Jr. and the late Homer Hoey Starr; and is survived by two sisters-in-law, Minnidell Miller Starr and Audrey Bracken Urling. Arabella Starr, a ninth generation Arabella, was born and raised in McKeesport, PA. She received her elementary teaching certificate from the State Teachers College at Indiana, PA at the age of 19. In 1940, she married Harry Bracken, the son of one of Brentwood's founders and first solicitor. Belle and Harry loved Brentwood and the oak trees in Colonial Park. Belle helped organize the original Friends of the Brentwood Library while Harry served on the borough's council. After retiring from teaching at Sickman School, Belle devoted herself to the game and rules of golf, South Hills Country Club, and Brentwood Presbyterian Church. She actively participated in the Women's Golf Association of South Hills Country Club and served as a treasurer of the Women's Golf Association of Western Pennsylvania. She played her last 9 holes when she was 89. Belle was an elder at Brentwood Presbyterian Church. She worked tirelessly on the care and maintenance of the church's yard and requested that any remembrance honoring her memory be sent to Brentwood Presbyterian Church, 3725 Brownsville Road, Pittsburgh, PA, 15227, to help maintain the beauty of the church's grounds. Belle's family will receive friends on Saturday, October 5 from 9:30 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. in the Geneva Room of Brentwood Presbyterian Church, 3725 Brownsville Road. A Service of Witness to the Resurrection will be celebrated in the church's sanctuary at 10:30 a.m. Funeral arrangements are being handled by JOHN F. SLATER FUNERAL HOME, INC., 4201 Brownsville Road, Brentwood 15227. Please send condolences to:
www.johnfslater.com
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